18 posts in this topic

psyche101 19,697

Building a massive space weapon is all very well, but you have to find the materials to build it with. It's easy to say that "sure, the Death Star would be expensive" but is there actually enough iron in the Earth to make the first Death Star? Centives decided to find out.

We began by looking at how big the Death Star is. The first one is reported to be 140km in diameter and it sure looks like it's made of steel. But how much steel? We decided to model the Death Star as having a similar density in steel as a modern warship. After all, they're both essentially floating weapons platforms so that seems reasonable.

But, before you go off to start building your apocalyptic weapon, do bear in mind two things. Firstly, the two billion death stars is mostly from the Earth's core which we would all really rather you didn't remove. And secondly, at today's rate of steel production (1.3 billion tonnes annually), it would take 833,315 years to produce enough steel to begin work. So once someone notices what you're up to, you have to fend them off for 800 millennia before you have a chance to fight back. In context, it takes under an hour to get the steel for HMS Illustrious.

Oh, and the cost of the steel alone? At 2012 prices, about $852,000,000,000,000,000. Or roughly 13,000 times the world's GDP.*

But then again, you can just take out a loan from the entire planet and then default on them in the most awesome way possible.

Link to post

Share on other sites

Fluffybunny 43

It depends. Do you want the defective version with the exhaust port that is uncovered and can cause a chain reaction destroying the entire star if someone so much as drops a Tic-Tac down the wrong port?

I think before you get to that part you at least budget for some particle board and some nails to cover that bad boy up, otherwise you are looking at a potential poo-storm from legal if anyone/everyone gets hurt with that flaw in place.

Just an FYI.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

DieChecker 16,633

And secondly, at today's rate of steel production (1.3 billion tonnes annually), it would take 833,315 years to produce enough steel to begin work. So once someone notices what you're up to, you have to fend them off for 800 millennia before you have a chance to fight back. In context, it takes under an hour to get the steel for HMS Illustrious.

Oh, and the cost of the steel alone? At 2012 prices, about $852,000,000,000,000,000. Or roughly 13,000 times the world's GDP.*

But then again, you can just take out a loan from the entire planet and then default on them in the most awesome way possible.

Not too hard considering the Emperor controlled the greater majority of the planets of the galaxy. Estimated Empirial planets was in the millions, some of which were Forge worlds that were covered completely in industry.

with only 69 million systems meeting the requirements for Imperial representation, and 1.75 million planets considered full member worlds. In total, the galaxy was populated by approximately 100 quadrillion different life forms.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

psyche101 19,697

It depends. Do you want the defective version with the exhaust port that is uncovered and can cause a chain reaction destroying the entire star if someone so much as drops a Tic-Tac down the wrong port?

I think before you get to that part you at least budget for some particle board and some nails to cover that bad boy up, otherwise you are looking at a potential poo-storm from legal if anyone/everyone gets hurt with that flaw in place.

Just an FYI.

LOL, I hope we are learning from past experiences! I am sure the Empire has a ruthless legal team though!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

psyche101 19,697

Not too hard considering the Emperor controlled the greater majority of the planets of the galaxy. Estimated Empirial planets was in the millions, some of which were Forge worlds that were covered completely in industry.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

tipotep 451

I think it would be cheaper and easier to retro-fit the moon with a few bits of angle iron, some laser pointers and some of bottle rockets , the tides might be a bit off while we are out of orbit but all in all it seems a solid idea

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

psyche101 19,697

I think it would be cheaper and easier to retro-fit the moon with a few bits of angle iron, some laser pointers and some of bottle rockets , the tides might be a bit off while we are out of orbit but all in all it seems a solid idea

TiP.

But how are we going to fly the moon around the Universe blowing up planets? The Earth is relying on the moon to keep it stable ATM. No point in a Death Star if is does not kill anyone!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

psyche101 19,697

You didn't catch the bit about the bottle rockets ? Thats our power baby

I did say that we might have a few tidal issues but I have had a new though , we can attach a cable to the earth and drag it around like our biarch

TiP.

Ohh yeah, onto the bottle rockets, I was worried the surf would go flat. It seems you have that covered, so I am back on board. Time to put this out to tender now, see who stuffs the quote up, and get the lowest price

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

psyche101 19,697

well it does have to be solid iron. We make an iron alloy using some cheaper material mixed in. This should bring down costs abit.

Just not on the outer hull, going by Fluffybunny's earlier comment, we don't want any weak points like the exhaust ports that someone could drop a tic tac into! Or we will be defaulting on insurance in the most awesomely way possible!

Edited February 22, 2012 by psyche101

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

A rather obscure Bassoon 1,993

Ohh yeah, onto the bottle rockets, I was worried the surf would go flat. It seems you have that covered, so I am back on board. Time to put this out to tender now, see who stuffs the quote up, and get the lowest price

Apparently the Iranians are interested they want to park it right over the west....